Mr. World and Miss Church-Member: A Twentieth Century Allegory

an easier method of traveling, for they rid

reads her Bible by the

ing it by a minion of Satan who

the inspired and the uninspired parts of the Bi

World secured a fashionable vehicle propelled by some secret force. Into this carriage he assi

e than ever. "I am glad you appreciate it," he smilingly returned. "According to my notion, riding is indeed preferable to walking. From these elevated carriages one can w

and her former associates, and seemed to feel thankful that s

een surrendered. But she had received strict orders not to

ew light, lifting her eyes at close intervals so as to mis

ed from chapter to chapter in brief succession and f

you feel aught of headache or heartache, throu

ible to her companion when there appeared to them a

e was now deeply engaged in the perus

are very interesting," he said in his good

sion she gladly complied and read the whole cha

g the course of which there joined them

wledge, Miss Church-Member exclaimed: "Who art thou, an

tudied that Book through all the changes of time and understand every pa

ly asked Miss Church-Member as she raised the open

grave danger of misapprehension. Didst thou have d

rteen and fourte

er then read them in

eadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in hereat: Because strait is the g

r, "we must be traveling in the wrong way. Does it not appear so?" sh

pecially if you look merely at the surface of

whereon we journey, the 'Broad Way.' Surely this part of Scripture is agai

of the way, thereby making it appear greater and broader than it really is. They go so far as to claim that the way is broad enough to accommodate all the people of the wo

, on this road, imagine or claim that the way is broader than it is; so we are cr

y conscience is still troubled, and methinks I hear a voice from this Bible chi

eaching to mar the peace and happiness of this way. Bid farewell to all thy inward doubting, and tast

from my Bible," she

not listen to the voice that is the Bible. Thou art in harmony with eve

hining form with more cu

passing whisper. "You have seen how he urg

If the studying of that Bible gives you pain, adding to the weight that already wearies your heart, wh

en my Book of books. It contains the code of laws that controls the whole spiritual world, and it is the on

anding of it. Perhaps," he continued, turning again to Miss Church-Member, "thou hast met with other myste

got through the kindness of Mr. World, have helped me to understand yo

ppear since thy sight is so imp

e confessed. "It is so much more liberal in

e comprehensive view, distinguish between the inspired and the

y doubted the genuineness of some parts

is the event that ever changed thine eyes to see so great a truth. Oh

the Bible will be rid of its erro

rue light of personal liberty and free thinking," came the answer from the

accomplished?" asked Mr. World whose i

ity vote, what parts of the Bible to expunge. Then the church and the world would have a Bible reasonably free from errors. Our present Bible has so many objec

id of its interpolations and errors of translation. Any preacher who would use in his pulpit such an abridged Bible would have my

Church-Member, "for there are some gentlemen of the cloth who

own like this on the head of each minister who will, in preaching and teaching, abridge the Bible and ridicule its weaknesses. Of

e bright messenger

ed again to know more

altogether satis

vehicle down the gravity road to Hell, Miss Ch

she soliloquized. "I can now see how foolish I on

, and saw a virtuous and holy woman on her kn

ith God for a better understanding of them, until flash after flash of heave

n angel of light, made no ap

which was sharper than a two-edged sword more than a large nu

u of Miss Church-M

spoke Blackana as a hideous

ndignation, and I spoke

tive words of Hell! Te

t Satan places on o

h-Mem

re helpful to Satan than when members of the church believe that parts of the Bible are untrue. It is indeed gratifying to us," continued Blackana with a fiendish smile, "to see the twentieth century of the so-called Christian era opening with the c

still unfriendly to Christ's cause, was continuing, when a

iery darts which are hurled even by the latest invented guns from the Wizard City. All Hell secretly ackn